PBA - Professional Bowlers Association

PBA Oil Patterns (AKA Lane Conditions)

When watching the PBA pros, you may think, "Hey, I bowled a 210 before, I can be a pro too." It's not as easy as it looks. There's something that significantly changes the playing surface. Something you can't see: Oil.

History

In the early days of bowling, oil conditioner was applied to the lane as a barrier to protect the surface from damage over years of use.

As lacquer, polyurethane and synthetic surfaces became more popular, oil became part of the sport.

Today, PBA members must continuously adjust their strategies and methods of attacking the challenging conditions of the PBA Tour.

PBA Lane Maintenance Philosophy

The PBA Lane Maintenance Program (LMP) exists to balance the many complicated variables associated with cleaning and conditioning lanes during multi-day PBA tournaments. For all regular events on the PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour and PBA50 Tour, one or more of the PBA’s patterns will be used at any given tournament. These patterns make up the "Official Playing Conditions of the PBA Tour."

The following are trademarks or service marks of Professional Bowlers Association, LLC and may be used only with permission of Professional Bowlers Association, LLC: Professional Bowlers Association, PBA, PBA Tour, the Viper, Shark, Scorpion, Chameleon, and Cheetah oil pattern logos, the bowler silhouette, World Series of Bowling, and all other logos, trademarks, and service names associated with the Professional Bowlers Association, LLC. No portion of the Website may be duplicated, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.